The Toronto Maple Leafs head into their bye week on a 3-game win streak after defeating the Winnipeg Jets for the second time in four days last night. Ahead of their 4-2 win in Winnipeg, the Leafs learned that Calle Jarnkrok would be out week-to-week with a broken knuckle, suffered after blocking a shot in practice. His injury gave Ryan Reaves an opportunity to get back into the lineup in his hometown and he did not disappoint.
Reaves, who was injured on December 14th against Columbus when he caught a rut and banged his knee off of the boards awkwardly, returned to the lineup after a six week absence, following an interview with Sportsnet's Luke Fox last week, when he claimed he had been healthy for weeks. Reaves made an impact immediately in his return in his hometown, scoring in the final minute of the first period to send the Leafs to the intermission tied at one with the Jets.
Reaves saw 9:33 of ice-time last night, which was his third highest total of the season. The increased ice time was, in large, due to what Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe saw from his play in his return to the lineup.
Unfortunately for Reaves and the Leafs, he will have to wait 10 days to build on what might be his best game as a Leaf, given the Leafs are now on their bye week which leads them into the All-Star break.
Reaves signed a 3-year, $4.05M deal with the Leafs in July, which carries a $1.35M AAV, and while he started the season with a bang, he struggled mightily until his injury. His play last night, being physical, competing hard and being more reliable defensively is what the Leafs were envisioning for him when he joined the team. Through 22 games as a Leaf, Reaves has 2 goals and 47 hits and has averaged just over 7 minutes of ice-time per game.
